TITLE: No Condemnation! By Micheline Murray 11/12/08 |
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"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (NKJV)
NO Condemnation! Can we truly grasp the meaning of those wonderful words? One of the things I am best at is taking on guilt for things left undone. "Should have" and "could have" can consume a large part of my thoughts if I allow them. Of course, I must make sure that I am not being idle; that those things I am responsible for are completed to the very best of my ability. There is a differentiation between "conviction" and "condemnation." Conviction is healthy; it remnds me when I've neglected or wronged something or someone, and prompts me to make things right, and to do better in the future. Condemnation is final; for example, when a house is condemned there are no more chances to try and fix it. The emeny wants me to believe the lie that my sins are so great that where I find myself is "final," that I have no more chances. When I belong to Christ Jesus, He convicts me of my sin so that I will turn away from it and move toward Him. The more closely I walk with Him, listening and obeying, He will teach and enable me to walk according to His Spirit and not according to my own flesh.
My Prayer: Thank You Lord, for the comfort and encouragement of Your word, I ask this day for Your conviction to fall upon me, that I would be faithful to complete all that You have called me to do this day. When I fall short and go my own way, show me, that I would confess my sin to You, turn from it and move on. Protect me from the darkness of condemnation that I, and others, and the enemy would so easily put me under. Help me to remember that condemnation never comes from You. Thank You that Your conviction brings obedience, faithfulness, and LIFE as I learn to walk in the Spirit.
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Have been writing since I was old enough to hold a crayon-but only recently felt it was time to "do something" with it. Thank the Lord for Dt. 31:8 "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."
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